Mobile communication method, radio base station, and mobile station

ABSTRACT

To further notify the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer used in a communication among a plurality of MOBILE STATIONs to a RADIO BASE STATION, the mobile communication method according to the present invention includes: transmitting, with a MOBILE STATION (UE# 1 ), a BSR (# 1 ) indicating the amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in a Uu interface to a RADIO BASE STATION (eNB); transmitting, with a MOBILE STATION (UE 1 ), a BSR (# 2 ) indicating the amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in a Ud interface to the RADIO BASE STATION (eNB); and distinguishing, with the RADIO BASE STATION (eNB), the BSR (# 1 ) from the BSR (# 2 ) based on predetermined information included in the received BSR.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile communication method, a RADIO BASE STATION and a MOBILE STATION.

BACKGROUND ART

A communication among a plurality of MOBILE STATIONs UE is performed through a radio access network apparatus, a core network apparatus or the like in a cellular mobile communication system in Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) system, Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, or the like.

CITATION LIST Non-Patent Literature

Non-patent Literature 1 3GPP TS 36.300

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

However, in the conventional cellular mobile communication system, for example, in the LTE mobile communication system, although a RADIO BASE STATION UE can recognize the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer used in a communication between a MOBILE STATION UE and the RADIO BASE STATION eNB, the RADIO BASE STATION eNB cannot recognize the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer used in a communication among a plurality of MOBILE STATIONs UE.

Thus, there is a problem in that the RADIO BASE STATION eNB cannot control such a communication with taking into account the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer used in the communication among a plurality of MOBILE STATIONs UE.

In light of the foregoing, an objective of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication method, a RADIO BASE STATION and a MOBILE STATION that are capable of notifying, to the RADIO BASE STATION, the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer used in a communication among a plurality of MOBILE STATIONs separately from the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer used in a communication between a MOBILE STATION and the RADIO BASE STATION.

The gist of a first feature of the present invention is a mobile communication method including: transmitting, with a first MOBILE STATION, a data signal to a RADIO BASE STATION through a RADIO BASE STATION interface set between the first MOBILE STATION and the RADIO BASE STATION, transmitting, with the first MOBILE STATION, a data signal to a second MOBILE STATION through an inter-MOBILE STATION interface set between the first MOBILE STATION and the second MOBILE STATION, transmitting, with the first MOBILE STATION, a first buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the RADIO BASE STATION interface to the RADIO BASE STATION, transmitting, with the first MOBILE STATION, a second buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the inter-MOBILE STATION interface to the RADIO BASE STATION, and determining, with the RADIO BASE STATION, which the buffer status report is, the first buffer status report or the second buffer status report, based on predetermined information included in the received buffer status report.

The gist of a second feature of the present invention is A RADIO BASE STATION including: a receiving unit configured to receive a buffer status report from a MOBILE STATION, in which the receiving unit configured to determine based on predetermined information included in the received buffer status report which the buffer status report is, a first buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in a RADIO BASE STATION interface set between the MOBILE STATION and the RADIO BASE STATION, or a second buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the inter-MOBILE STATION interface set between the MOBILE STATION and another MOBILE STATION.

The gist of a third feature of the present invention is a MOBILE STATION including: a transmitting unit configured to transmit a data signal to a RADIO BASE STATION through a RADIO BASE STATION interface set between the MOBILE STATION and the RADIO BASE STATION and transmit a data signal to another MOBILE STATION through an inter-MOBILE STATION interface set between the MOBILE STATION and the other MOBILE STATION, in which the transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the RADIO BASE STATION, a first buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in a RADIO BASE STATION interface, and a second buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the inter-MOBILE STATION interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the whole structure of a mobile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a RADIO BASE STATION according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of an exemplary method for allotting LCs and LGPs with the RADIO BASE STATION according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a MOBILE STATION according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for describing the operation of the mobile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

(Mobile Communication System According to the First Embodiment of the Present Invention)

A mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

The mobile communication system according to the present embodiment is an LTE mobile communication system, and includes a mobility management node Mobility Management Entity (MME) and a RADIO BASE STATION eNB connected in such a way as to be under the mobility management node MME as illustrated in FIG. 1. Note that the present invention can also be applied to cellular mobile communication systems other than an LTE mobile communication system.

In that case, data signals are transmitted and received between the RADIO BASE STATION eNB and MOBILE STATIONs UE#1/UE#2 through Uu interfaces. A data signal is transmitted and received between the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through a Ud interface.

In other words, the MOBILE STATION UE#1 can transmit and receive a data signal to/from the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the RADIO BASE STATION eNB (through the Uu interface) or can also transmit and receive a data signal to/from the MOBILE STATION UE#2 without the RADIO BASE STATION eNB (through the Ud interface).

Similarly, the MOBILE STATION UE#2 can transmit and receive a data signal to/from the MOBILE STATION UE#1 through the RADIO BASE STATION eNB (through the Uu interface) or can also transmit and receive a data signal to/from the MOBILE STATION UE#1 without the RADIO BASE STATION eNB (through the Ud interface).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the RADIO BASE STATION eNB includes an allotting unit 11, a transmitting unit 12, and a receiving unit 13.

The allotting unit 11 is configured to allot the identification information of the logical channels in the Uu interface and the identification information of the logical channels in the Ud interface to the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2.

In that case, for example, the allotting unit 11 is configured to allot a Logical Channel Identity (LCID) or a Logical Group Priority (LGP) as the identification information of a logical channel.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the allotting unit 11 is configured to allot LC#1 to LC#3 as the identification information of the logical channels in the Uu interface and to allot LC#11 to LC#13 as the identification information of the logical channels in the Ud interface.

In the example of FIG. 3, the allotting unit 11 is further configured to allot the LCs such that the LC#1 and LC#2 belong to LGP#1, the LC#3 belongs to LGP#2, the LC#11 and LC#12 belong to LGP#11, and the LC#13 belongs to LGP#12.

The transmitting unit 12 is configured to transmit a data signal and a control signal to the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the Uu interface.

In that case, the transmitting unit 12 is configured to transmit notification signals for notifying the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel in the Uu interface and the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel in the Ud interface that have been allotted with the allotting unit 11 to the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the Uu interface.

The receiving unit 13 is configured to receive a data signal and a control signal from the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the Uu interface.

Specifically, the receiving unit 13 is configured to receive BSR#1 and BSR#2 from the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the Uu interface.

In that case, the BSR#1 is a BSR indicating the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the Uu interface. The BSR#2 is a BSR indicating the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the Ud interface.

The receiving unit 13 is configured to determine, based on predetermined information included in the received BSR, which the BSR is, the BSR#1 or the BSR#2.

For example, the receiving unit 13 can be configured to determine that the BSR is the BSR#2 when a predetermined flag (Flag) is set on the received BSR.

The receiving unit 13 is further configured to determine that the BSR is the BSR#1 when the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel included in the received BSR has a value within a first range. The receiving unit 13 can also be configured to determine that the BSR is the BSR#2 when the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel included in the received BSR has a value within a second range.

The receiving unit 13 can also be configured to determine, based on the protocol header information (for example, the type of MAC PDU) included in the received BSR, that the BSR is the BSR#2.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the MOBILE STATION UE#1 will be representatively described because the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 basically have the same configuration.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the MOBILE STATION UE#1 includes a receiving unit 21, a BSR generating unit 22, and a transmitting unit 23.

The receiving unit 21 is configured to receive a data signal and a control signal from the RADIO BASE STATION eNB through the Uu interface and to receive a data signal from the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the Ud interface.

For example, the receiving unit 21 can be configured to receive notification signals for notifying the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel in the Uu interface and the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel in the Ud interface from the RADIO BASE STATION eNB.

The BSR generating unit 22 is configured to generate the BSR#1 and the BSR#2 at a predetermined timing.

In that case, the BSR generating unit 22 is configured to cause the BSR#1 and the BSR#2 to include the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel in the Uu interface and the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel in the Ud interface, respectively.

The BSR generating unit 22 can also be configured to set a predetermined flag to the BSR#2.

The transmitting unit 23 is configured to transit a data signal and a control signal to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB through the Uu interface and to transmit a data signal to the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the Ud interface.

At that case, the transmitting unit 23 is configured to transmit the BSR#1 and BSR#2 generated with the BSR generating unit 22 at a predetermined timing to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB through the Uu interface.

Note that the timing for generating the BSR#1 and the timing for generating the BSR#2 can be at the same time or at different times. The timing for transmitting the BSR#1 and the timing for transmitting the ESR#2 can be at the same time or at different times.

The predetermined timing can be the time when new data to be transmitted is generated in a high priority logical channel based on the LGP, the time when the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer has varied by a predetermined value or more, or the time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous BSR has been transmitted.

The predetermined timing can also be the time when an allotment for an uplink transmission of the Uu interface occurs.

Especially, when the data to be transmitted has been stuffed in the resource allotted for an uplink transmission and this has left a region large enough to include a BSR, a BRS can be generated and included therein.

Hereinafter, the operation when data signals are transmitted and received between the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the Ud interface in the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in step S1001, the RADIO BASE STATION eNB allots and notifies the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel in the Uu interface and the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel in the Ud interface to the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 in the procedure for starting transmitting and receiving the data signals between the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the Ud interface.

After that, the MOBILE STATION UE#1 starts transmitting a data signal to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB as illustrated in step S1002 a and starts transmitting a data signal to the MOBILE STATION UE#2 as illustrated in step S1002 b.

At that time, the MOBILE STATION UE#1 transmits the BSR#1 to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB at a predetermined timing as illustrated in step S1003 a and transmits the BSR#2 as illustrated in step S1003 b.

Similarly, the MOBILE STATION UE#2 starts transmitting a data signal to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB as illustrated in step S1102 a and starts transmitting a data signal to the MOBILE STATION UE#1 as illustrated in step S1102 b.

At that time, the MOBILE STATION UE#2 transmits the BSR#1 to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB at a predetermined timing as illustrated in step S1103 a and transmits the BSR#2 as illustrated in step S1103 b.

In step S1200, the RADIO BASE STATION eNB performs a process for controlling a communication between the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 based on the BSR#1 and the BSR#2 received from the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2.

At that time, the RADIO BASE STATION eNB can perform a process for scheduling a communication between the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 based on the BSR#1 and the BSR#2.

For example, the RADIO BASE STATION eNB can determine based on the BSR#1 and the BSR#2 whether to perform a communication between the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 through the Uu interface (or, namely, through the RADIO BASE STATION eNB) or through the Ud interface (or, namely, without the RADIO BASE STATION eNB).

According to the mobile communication system of the first embodiment of the present invention, the RADIO BASE STATION eNB can control a communication between the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 with taking into account not only the BSR#1 but also the content of the BSR#2 because the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2 are configured to transmit the BSR#2 in addition to the BSR#1 to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB.

The above-described aspects in the present embodiment can also be expressed as the following.

A first aspect of the present invention is a mobile communication method including: transmitting, with a MOBILE STATION UE#1 (a first MOBILE STATION), a data signal to a RADIO BASE STATION eNB through a Uu interface (a RADIO BASE STATION interface) set between the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the RADIO BASE STATION eNB; transmitting, with the MOBILE STATION UE#1, a data signal to a MOBILE STATION UE#2 (a second MOBILE STATION) through a Ud interface (an inter-MOBILE STATION interface) set between the MOBILE STATION UE#1 and the MOBILE STATION UE#2; transmitting, with the MOBILE STATION UE#l, a BSR #1 (a first buffer status report) indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the Uu interface to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB; transmitting, with the MOBILE STATION UE#1, a BSR #2 (a second buffer status report) indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the Ud interface to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB; and distinguishing, with the RADIO BASE STATION eNB, the BSR #1 from the BSR #2 based on predetermined information included in the received BSR.

The first aspect of the present embodiment can include allotting, with the RADIO BASE STATION eNB, at least one of an LCID and an LGP as identification information of a logical channel in the Uu interface and identification information of a logical channel in the Ud interface.

A second aspect of the present invention is a RADIO BASE STATION eNB including: a receiving unit 13 configured to receive a BSR from a MOBILE STATION UE, the receiving unit 13 configured to determine based on predetermined information included in the received BSR which the BSR is, a BSR #1 or a BSR #2.

The second aspect of the present invention can include an allotting unit 11 configured to allot at least one of an LCID and an LGP as identification information of a logical channel in the Uu interface and identification information of a logical channel in the Ud interface.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the receiving unit 13 can be configured to determine that the BSR is the BSR #2 when a predetermined flag is set on the received BSR.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the receiving unit 13 is configured to determine that the BSR is the BSR #1 when the identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel included in the received BSR has a value within a first range, and the receiving unit 13 can also be configured to determine that the BSR is the BSR #2 when identification information (LCID or LGP) of a logical channel included in the received BSR has a value within a second range.

A third aspect of the present invention is a MOBILE STATION UE#1 including: a transmitting unit 23 configured to transmit a data signal to a RADIO BASE STATION eNB through a Uu interface and to transmit a data signal to another MOBILE STATION UE#2 through a Ud interface; the transmitting unit 23 configured to transmit, to the RADIO BASE STATION eNB, a BSR #1 indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the Uu interface, and a BSR#2 indicating an amount of data retained in a transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the Ud interface.

In the third aspect of the present invention, a predetermined flag can be set on the BSR #2.

Note that the above-mentioned operations of the RADIO BASE STATION eNB, the MOBILE STATIONs UE, and the like can be implemented with hardware, can be implemented with a software module executed with the processor, or can be implemented with the combination thereof.

The software module can be provided in an arbitrary format storage medium such as a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM), a register, a hard disk, a removal disk, and a CD-ROM.

The storage medium is connected to a processor such that the processor can read and write information from/to the storage medium. The storage medium can be integrated in a processor. The storage medium and the processor can be provided in an ASIC. The ASIC can be provided in the RADIO BASE STATION eNB, the MOBILE STATIONs UE, or the like. Each of the storage medium and the processor can be provided in the RADIO BASE STATION eNB, the MOBILE STATIONs UE, or the like as a discrete component.

The present invention has been described in detail above with the embodiment. However, it is obvious for a person with an ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein. The present invention can be modified or altered without departing from the gist and scope of the invention defined by the description of the claims. Thus, the description herein is aimed at describing examples and does not mean any limitations on the present invention.

Note that Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-096315 (filed Apr. 22, 2011) is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention can provide a mobile communication method, a RADIO BASE STATION and a MOBILE STATION that are capable of notifying, to a RADIO BASE STATION, the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer used in a communication among a plurality of MOBILE STATIONs separately from the amount of data retained in the transmission buffer used in a communication between a MOBILE STATION and the RADIO BASE STATION.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   UE MOBILE STATION -   eNB RADIO BASE STATION -   11 allotting unit -   12, 23 transmitting unit -   13, 21 receiving unit -   22 BSR generating unit 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A mobile communication method comprising: transmitting, with a first MOBILE STATION, a data signal to a RADIO BASE STATION through a RADIO BASE STATION interface set between the first MOBILE STATION and the RADIO BASE STATION; transmitting, with the first MOBILE STATION, a data signal to a second MOBILE STATION through an inter-MOBILE STATION interface set between the first MOBILE STATION and the second MOBILE STATION; transmitting, with the first MOBILE STATION, a first buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a first transmission buffer, the first transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the RADIO BASE STATION interface to the RADIO BASE STATION; transmitting, with the first MOBILE STATION, a second buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a second transmission buffer, the second transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the inter-MOBILE STATION interface to the RADIO BASE STATION; determining, with the RADIO BASE STATION, which the buffer status report is, the first buffer status report or the second buffer status report, based on predetermined information included in the received buffer status report; and allotting, with the RADIO BASE STATION, at least one of a Logical Channel Identity (LCID) and a Logical Group Priority (LGP) as identification information of a logical channel in the RADIO BASE STATION interface and identification information of a logical channel in the inter-MOBILE STATION interface.
 2. A RADIO BASE STATION with a processor and a memory comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive a buffer status report from a MOBILE STATION, wherein the receiving unit configured to determine based on predetermined information included in the received buffer status report which the buffer status report is, a first buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a first transmission buffer, the first transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in a RADIO BASE STATION interface set between the MOBILE STATION and the RADIO BASE STATION, or a second buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a second transmission buffer, the second transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the inter-MOBILE STATION interface set between the MOBILE STATION and another MOBILE STATION, and an allotting unit configured to allot at least one of a Logical Channel Identity (LCID) and a Logical Group Priority (LGP) as identification information of a logical channel in the RADIO BASE STATION interface and identification information of a logical channel in the inter-MOBILE STATION interface.
 3. The RADIO BASE STATION according claim 2, wherein the receiving unit is configured to determine that the buffer status report is the second buffer status report when a predetermined flag is set on the received buffer status report.
 4. The RADIO BASE STATION according claim 2, wherein the receiving unit is configured to determine that the buffer status report is the first buffer status report when identification information of a logical channel included in the received buffer status report has a value within a first range, and the receiving unit is configured to determine that the buffer status report is the second buffer status report when identification information of a logical channel included in the received buffer status report has a value within a second range.
 5. A MOBILE STATION with a processor and a memory comprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmit a data signal to a RADIO BASE STATION through a RADIO BASE STATION interface set between the MOBILE STATION and the RADIO BASE STATION and transmit a data signal to another MOBILE STATION through an inter-MOBILE STATION interface set between the MOBILE STATION and the other MOBILE STATION, wherein the transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the RADIO BASE STATION, a first buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a first transmission buffer, the first transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in a RADIO BASE STATION interface, and a second buffer status report indicating an amount of data retained in a second transmission buffer, the second transmission buffer corresponding to a logical channel in the inter-MOBILE STATION interface, wherein at least one of a Logical Channel Identity (LCID) and a Logical Group Priority (LGP) is allotted with the RADIO BASE STATION as identification information of a logical channel in the RADIO BASE STATION interface and identification information of a logical channel in the inter-MOBILE STATION interface.
 6. The MOBILE STATION according claim 5, wherein a predetermined flag is set on the second buffer status report. 